The Brookhaven leader., 1887-02-17
LINCOLN COUNTY, MISS.
A Pen Sketch of it's Natural
Advantages, Soil, Prod
ucts, People, Etc.
A GOODLY LAND FOR PER-
MANENT HOME-SEEKERS.

For the information and guidance of
strangers, and especially those from
the North and West who may be seek
ing good homes in the South, The
LEADiR R has prepared this article briefly
setting forth the advantages and re-
sources of Lincoln county. We have
confined ourself to plain statement of
facts without fancy embellishments, and
as far as it goes it may be relied upon
rs faithful representation.
Lincoln county was created by act of
the Legislature approved April 7, 1870.
and though there have been several acts
passed since affecting its boundaries,
its area has not mat rally been altered
1t was formed of parts of the counties
of Lawrence. Copiah, Pike, Amite and
Franklin, as they existed previous to
that time, the trst-named contributing
about one half of the territory to the
new county.
boundaries and Area.
The southern boundary of the county
is parallel with and just "a miles north
of the 3lst degree of latitude, the line
separating Mississippi from East Louis
lana. Its northern boundary, save the
"notch" cut into the county so as to
retain the town of Wesson in Copiah.
as shown on the map of the State, is
parallel with the southern boundary,
and just "a miles north of it The
main ridge separating the waters that
flow into the Mississippi from those that
seek Pearl river extends nearly cen
trally through the county. The breadth
from east to west is % miles, save that
six miles square is added to the north
west, thus making the northern bound,
ary and strip six miles south of it OK
tend east and west 29 miles. The
county is bounded by those from which
it was formed and also by the county
of jefferson. Its area is 593 square
miles, and it is comparatively a small
county. being about one-third smaller
than either Pike or Copiah, between
which it lies. The Illinois Central
railroad passes centrally through the
county from north to south.
The Population
in 1870 was 10, lS4, of which 6,022 were
whites, and 4,162 colored. In 1880 the
whites numbered 7,70l; the colored
5,842; to'al 1914 1t will thus be
seen that the peEsentage~uf increase in
the decade as whole was 3, 363, over
33 per cent There has been large
increase of population since the last
census. and according to most reliable
estimates the population is now about
1900. During the last few years
quite number of negroes have left the
county at various times for the YaZoo
delta. their places being gradually filled
by whites, so that Lincoln may justly
be classed as a white mans county.
The registered vote of 1885, the largest
ever reached, was 1920, of which 2,O75
were white and 1,125 blay k.
Assessed Value of Property.
The assessed value of property in
1886 was: Realty, 1888, ,095; personally,
$50, 52S; total. 81. .453,000. The net
increase in values in the last five years
is $343,O95 The Indebtedness of the
county is small, not exceeding $1,000,
and this will be Cancelled within the
next two years.
geographically Considered
Lincoln county is pecul ar While no
very large streams are in the county,
vet quite number rise here A point
a few miles northwest of Brookhaven
seems to be the highest in the county.
and a general watershed In this
neighborhood the Bayou Pierre rises
and runs almost due north for many
miles, and thence turning to the west
finds an entrance into the Mississippi in
the nelghborhood of Port Gibson. Near
the same point McCall's creek rises,
and not far west the Homo Chitto.
which, coming together, and flowing in
a southwestern course, empty into the
Mississippi short distance above the
Louisiana line. The ANTE river rises
lust south of the headwaters of McCaIFs
creek and runs nearly south into Lake
Maurepa. The Tangipahoa rises q
short distance west of Antics head
waters, flows south and empties itself
into Pontchartlain lake. 1he Bogue
Chitto rises near the watershed and
flows east of south, emptying partly in
to Lake Pontchartrain and partly into
Pearl river near its mouth. Topisaw
rises southeast of the Bogue Chtto.
and running nearly south empties into
the latter stream at Holmesville. in
Pike county. Fair river rises just north
of Topisaw's headwaters. and runs
northeast falling into Pearl river sew
eral miles above Monticello, in Law
renee county. The Bahala rises north
of Brookhaven and flows northeast.
reaching Pearl river near the Copiah
line. Brookhaven is 500 feet above the
levee of the sea- Q The highest point In
the comfy is believed to be about 500
feet, and the county is higher than any
that bounds 1t or is within 200 miles
of il
The Soil.
As q result of this Topography and
the numerous tributaries of the princi-
nal streams named. there is large pro-
It. .f A. land IN tho cOuntv which